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Photobiology of endolithic microorganisms in living coral skeletons: 1. Pigmentation, spectral reflectance and variable chlorophyll fluorescence analysis of endoliths in the massive corals Cyphastrea serailia, Porites lutea and Goniastrea australensis

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Abstract

We used microscopy, reflectance spectroscopy, pigment analysis, and photosynthesis-irradiance curves measured with variable fluorescence techniques to characterise the endolithic communities of phototrophic microorganisms in the skeleton of three massive corals from a shallow reef flat. Microscopic observations and reflectance spectra showed the presence of up to four distinct bands of photosynthetic microorganisms at different depths within the coral skeleton. Endolithic communities closer to the coral surface exhibited higher photosynthetic electron transport rates and a green zone dominated by Ostreobium quekettii nearest the surface had the greatest chlorophyll pigment concentration. However, Ostreobium was also present and photosynthetically active in the colourless band between the coral tissue and the green band. The spectral properties and pigment density of the endolithic bands were also found to closely correlate to photosynthetic rates as assessed by fluorometry. All endolithic communities were extremely shade-adapted, and photosynthesis was saturated at irradiances <7 μmol photons m−2s−1.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

CCD:

Charge coupled device

Chl:

Chlorophyll

E b :

Photoinhibition index

E d :

Downwelling irradiance

E k :

Minimum saturating irradiance

E m :

Irradiance at maximum photosynthetic rate

ETR:

Electron transport rate

F m :

Maximum fluorescence in dark

F m′ :

Maximum fluorescence in light

F o :

Minimum fluorescence in dark

F t :

Minimum fluorescence in light

LED:

Light emitting diode

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation

P m :

Photosynthetic capacity at saturating irradiance

P s :

Scaling factor

PSII:

Photosystem II

rETRmax :

Relative maximum electron transport rate

RLC:

Rapid light curve

α:

Initial slope of RLC

β:

Slope of RLC after photoinhibition

φPSII :

Effective quantum yield

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by UTS Internal Funds, the Australian Research Council (PJR and AWDL) and the Danish Natural Science Research Council (MK). A. Glud is thanked for excellent technical assistance. We wish to thank the staff at Heron Island Research station for their support and assistance in this research. All work was carried out under Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service collection permit G01/623. This is Contribution No. 2 of the Sydney Harbour Institute of Marine Science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Water and Environmental Resource Management, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway, 2007, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    P. J. Ralph

  2. School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    A. W. D. Larkum

  3. Marine Biological Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, 3000, Helsingør, Denmark

    M. Kühl

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  1. P. J. Ralph
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  2. A. W. D. Larkum
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  3. M. Kühl
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Correspondence to P. J. Ralph.

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Communicated by G.F. Humphrey.

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Ralph, P.J., Larkum, A.W.D. & Kühl, M. Photobiology of endolithic microorganisms in living coral skeletons: 1. Pigmentation, spectral reflectance and variable chlorophyll fluorescence analysis of endoliths in the massive corals Cyphastrea serailia, Porites lutea and Goniastrea australensis . Mar Biol 152, 395–404 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-007-0694-0

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